I climbed the career ladder and got my dream job at 30 – then I hit burnout

Some workforces have raised concerns about staff members leaving jobs due to burnout, including midwifery and teaching.

Hannah Leonard, from the Royal College of Midwives union, said: “Midwives do an extraordinary job, and they deserve to feel pride in their profession, not burnt out within a few years of qualifying”.

Neil Butler from the teaching union NASUWT said: “Changes must be made to bring back the joy into teaching. While it is a relentless grind we will continue to lose good teachers from classrooms in Wales.”

Laura Doel from Trade Union Congress Cymru, said: “Our research shows that stress is the number one risk at work, higher than traditional dangers like exposure to chemicals, working at height and unsafe machinery.”

She said actions by employers who offer wellbeing measures are welcomed, but tackling the root cause of stress such as “low pay, insecure contract and impossible workloads” was key.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive, Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, said: “Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from risk factors that cause work-related stress by assessing and properly managing key areas of the work.”

The Welsh government said it was working with employers and trade unions to reduce pressures, support staff wellbeing and ensure appropriate mental health support was available.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this story, information about available help and support can be found via BBC Action Line.